The use of essential oils for medicinal (rather than purely psychological) uses is growing rapidly in the United States. Users are doing their own research, and finding scientific backing for the use of volatile plant compounds for a wide variety of applications. Many essential oils have proven antibacterial, antiviral, and even anticancer effects. Essential oils can be of profound support for pain relief too, though the research is as yet a little more sparse. We have been using Aromatherapy for quite some time without realizing it, in the form of Ben Gay and Tiger Balm, for sore muscles and stiff joints. Now, Helichrysum essential oil is becoming more and more popular, as it not only relieves pain, but actually speeds healing of many injuries and ailments. What's different about Helichrysum? Why might it have even better effects than the Wintergreen found in Ben Gay? It's all in the chemistry -- some of the individual constituents of the oil DO have scientifically validated effects. Here's a look at the multitude of actions of Helichrysum, and how you can benefit from this effective natural plant medicine.
Healing The Body's Structure
Helichrysum's most revered effects have to do with the healing of the musculoskeletal system -- it happens to have several natural chemical constituents that synergize to produce quick, profound results. Pure essential oils are often made up of many, sometimes hundreds of individual molecules. The 'chemistry profile' of Helichrysum essential oil is very special, containing a spectrum of healing compounds produced by a single plant. Many essential oils have proven medical effects (search Pub Med for 'essential oil' to see thousands of results), including antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer activity. Helichrysum's primary applications are on the healing of the muscles, joints, skin and connective tissues -- though there are more diverse uses, these are the easiest for most users to experience.
Soothing Inflammation
A great many drugs today, including the most popular over-the-counter pharmaceutical medicines, are made to specifically reduce inflammation. Swollen, irritated tissue will tend to both HURT, and cause MORE INFLAMMATION -- which of course HURTS MORE! And that's just the surface of it -- inflammation not only causes pain, but ages our body more quickly. Inflammation has been targeted by pain relieving drugs as well as anti-aging medicines. Curcumin, the extract of the spice Turmeric, has become a very popular dietary supplement to treat inflammation. Helichrysum essential oil is high in a related compounds also with strong anti-inflammatory activity: alpha-, beta- and gamma- curcumene. The essential oil can be made up of 10-25% curcumenes, depending on the region where the plant is grown (Serbian and Croatian varieties may have the highest values of curcumenes). One of the oil's most important uses is the application during the initial stages of physical trauma, greatly reducing slow-healing hematomas from forming.
Muscle Relaxant
The first place where the 'serotinum' sub species shines is in the area of relieving tight muscles. Much back and neck pain, for example, is the result of the muscles being chronically cramped. Helicrysum contains a natural chemical called 'neryl acetate' which acts to relax these cramped muscles. Helichryum italicum essential oils contain in the range of 5% to 50% neryl acetate. This natural chemical is from a group of compounds called Esters, found in a great many relaxing essential oils -- most notably that of Lavender, the most widely-studied and highly revered 'relaxing' essential oil.
The serotinum sub species, with the highest neryl acetate levels of all, is found almost exclusively to be grown on the French island of Corsica. There's something about the soft coastal air that produces some of the finest Helichrysum plants in the world. There have been producers of this sub species in the United States, though the total quantities of essential oil produced have been relatively small. Helichrysum italicum is also grown in Italy, Serbia-Montenegro, Bosnia and elsewhere in South-Eastern Europe. These locations produce excellent oils, though they may have lower amounts of neryl acetate, many have significant quantities of other important constituents.
Regenerative Effects
Helichrysum contains molecules regarded for their ability to signal our cells to heal and regenerate. These compound are called 'di-ketones', of which Helichrysum specifically contains several Italidiones. You'll find the essential oil an ingredient in nearly every wound healing and scar reducing formula in aromatherapy. (It should not be used on open wounds due to its anticoagulant effects, but is suitable once an injury is no longer likely to bleed). These same regenerative di-ketones make the oil an excellent choice for all sorts of skin-care recipes; the regenerative action can be complemented by a carrier oil like Rosehip seed, whose carotene content also supports skin healing -- these two oils together form the foundation of many anti-aging skin care blends.
Anti-Hematoma, Bruise Preventative
Helichrysum essential oil is called for at 100% strength in one particular use: preventing the formation of bruises and hematomas. When an impact injury occurs, one of the first physiological responses is the filling of the damaged tissues with fluid, and the blocking of further blood flow through the area. Blood already in the area will stagnate and turn dark, resulting in a bruise. This is a natural response to prevent us from causing further damage. However, it also slows the healing process. One ore more applications of the essential oil will prevent the initial swelling from occurring, and limit the formation of a bruise. This typically gets one 'back into the game' much more quickly, as many avid users who are also fitness addicts will attest to. Twist an ankle, apply some oil. Bump your head, do the same. Works every time!
Personal Healing Experiences
The use of Helichrysum essential oil on the world stage of medicine has been very brief. While use in aromatherapy has been significant, the cross over into the greater world of natural health is only just happening. As a result, formal testing of its efficacy is limited. However, because the oil is so safe, its really worth a try to see if it works for you. The critics of natural health say over and over that so many plant medicines are 'unproven' -- we counter that so many 'proven' medicines are actually dangerous, lack truly unbiased scientific backing, and don't actually result in healing, but rather a temporary cessation of symptoms. A fairly small amount of Helichrysum essential oil will either give you the results you're looking for or it won't. MANY users HAVE reported excellent results: profound relief from back pain, neck pain, joint pain scar tissue tightness. Extreme sports enthusiasts have called it 'the magic oil' for its quick pain relief. If Helichrysum sounds like it may help you, there's every reason to give this wonderful, effective, organic natural medicine a try!
Author Resource:-
Owned by the author, The Ananda Apothecary is an excellent online resource for premium grade wildcrafted, organic and 100% pure essential oils, flower essences, and aromatherapy supplies.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.thearticlefeed.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
